NEWSLETTER My Family Have Been in the Hall Now I Am Not Proud of the Fact That for Just Over a Year

Summer & Autumn 2008 • Issue 16

NEWSLETTER My family have been in the Hall now I am not proud of the fact that for just over a year. It still takes some Building Maintenance, in its pursuit Inside this issue getting used to, particularly for Polly of efficiency, had to make 13 men and the children, but it very much redundant at the beginning of the feels like home. There is so much to year. It was a painful process for all The Hall...... 2 do, so many people to see and once concerned but I am genuinely pleased Room Stewards’ Coffee Morning ...... 3 that is all done we still have to ensure that all of those men have found Victoria’s Men ...... 3 the children have a happy and alternative employment. All That Glistens...... 4 grounded family life. Everything we do at Holkham must From The Archives ...... 5 It was therefore very sad this spring be for the benefit of the Hall and its Marketing Department ...... 6 when my wife’s wonderful father amazing collection. It is the centre- Locals’ Day...... 6 David Whately died aged 84. He was a piece of the estate and has an enviable Holkham Theatre...... 7 great man who had fought in the reputation. We must always remember The Ticket Office...... 7 Second World War and won the that and base our decisions around it. Military Cross in Italy a month after Therefore it is a shame that this year Holkham Retail ...... 8 his twentieth birthday. Thanks to men we are unable to capitalise on the Holkham Foods ...... 8 like him we live in a free country. success of our outdoor concerts in Holkham Village Post Office...... 9 All of us enjoyed Locals’ Day on 2007. We experienced difficulty Caravan Club National Rally ...... 10 17 May as we bumped into or served attracting the right bands and were Pinewoods Holiday Park ...... 12 friends from Wells, Wighton, the not prepared to compromise on Bringing The Outside In...... 12 Burnhams and beyond, all of whom quality. It is so important to set a Holkham Farming Company...... 13 enjoyed free entry into the Hall. standard and maintain it. We decided Forestry Department...... 13 Many of us were saddened to see it would be better not to risk damage Game Department ...... 13 three of our managers leave in the to Holkham’s reputation with a Building Maintenance ...... 14 spring. Michael Turner, Simon Lester, substandard evening. We hope for Holkham Linseed Paints ...... 15 and Peter Godwin have been central something big next summer. Windowcraft Department...... 15 figures at Holkham for seven years and In my capacity as President of the became great friends. However, we Caravan Club, I was delighted to Wastewater Treatment Plant...... 16 can’t expect people to stay for ever, welcome 3,000 caravans to Holkham Finance Department ...... 17 change is with us all the time and for the Club’s National Rally. Over Holkham National Nature Reserve ..17 reminds us that we are not 8,000 very well behaved guests, The Victoria...... 18 indispensable. including my family, had an excellent The Globe...... 18 Their departure gives others an weekend of good clean fun Obituaries...... 18 opportunity. I am very pleased with caravanning in the park. All of them Estate News ...... 19 the calibre of their replacements: went away with an abiding impression Holkham People...... 20 Mark Bowyer (HFC), Nick Parker of the estate, which serves to further (Game) and Timothy Marshall enhance its reputation. (Gardens). Already they are impressing with fresh ideas. We are delighted to welcome them to Holkham and wish them success with their careers here. Viscount Coke

Erratum: in the last newsletter I stated that the “South Devon cattle were Coke of Norfolk’s preferred breed”. Keith McDougall, erstwhile farm partner of Lord Leicester’s at Chalk Hill Farm, Warham has pointed out that in fact The Caravan Club National Rally Coke of Norfolk introduced the “North” or “Ruby Red Devon” to Norfolk. See page 10 www.holkham.co.uk The Hall And so we start all over again! I noticed that in the winter newsletter I was complaining about the rain in Easter 2007 – Oh my, why didn’t I just keep quiet? Easter in March and naturally we were blessed with howling winds and snow throughout the Bank Holiday. This is getting to be a habit. Thanks must go, not only to the stewards who braved the dreadful weather, but also to the many intrepid visitors who came to see us and keep us company. The changes to the house opening routine that I mentioned last time have been tested over the Easter break and on into mid April, when everything stopped so that we could become; yes, you’ve guessed it, a film location again. So what were the changes? We The Venetian Bedroom all dressed up extended the open season so that routines to continue. However, the The picture of the Marble Hall visitors were offered the opportunity picture we took of the Venetian shows that our “show” must go on to take an audio tour at Bedroom gives you some idea of the despite the filming. Here the Hall has 1 or 3 o’clock each day. Normally we amount of time and energy expended been dressed by the crew and our would shut after the Bank Holiday. To to transform each location. team have put out the chairs for a manage this process Rory Gould and For this scene all of our furniture Private Guided Tour. The tour took Laura Smith were recruited to man and fittings were removed – what you place during the film crew’s lunch the front desk. Tours were sold from see in the picture above are some of break and required some pretty tight the Ticket Office by Christine the props used to dress the set. Out of timing from all of us. The group really Hawkes and after a slow start proved the photo, on the east wall were two seemed to enjoy this unusual aspect of quite popular. very large wardrobes! Holkham. In addition to Laura and Rory, it is Interestingly the North Dining I’m pretty sure that this crew used good to welcome Jean Bourne, Tony Room was kitted out to represent a more of the house and grounds than Peach and Martin Webb as room room in the White House. The Duchess crew and they seemed to stewards. You’ll want to know what the film was. The working title was The Barbarian Princess filmed in Honolulu and here at Holkham. Once again the house was transformed by several tonnes of props. Light switches were covered up, bulbs removed and replaced with candles. Miles of cables snaked all over the house and grounds, scaffold towers, huge lights and more trucks than you could shake a stick at were moved in. Happily, a number of the crew turned out to be old friends from The Duchess and My talks with Dean Spanley so it wasn’t necessary to provide quite as much house training as is normally the case. The circus descended on us on 16 April and finally finished shooting on 30 April. Most of the shoot was done in the western end of the house which allowed some of our normal The North Dining Room masquerading as a room in the White House

2 • Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 Room Stewards’ Coffee Morning Holkham Hall room stewards have been meeting for coffee on the third Thursday of each month during the winter. Wells WI Hall is the venue where we enjoy a log fire made by Janet Eaton ahead of our 10.30 start so that the Hall is warm and welcom- ing for everyone. The attendance is between 16 and 18 people each meeting. At Christmas we gave ourselves a festive lunch. Janet Bishop made a beef casserole by popular request and we all contributed a starter or a pudding, rounded off by coffee and mints, enjoyed by 22 of us. We agreed that a winter get together had been a very good Taking advantage of a film crew lunch break to set up for a private guided tour idea and we plan to do the same be all over us like a rash! It is very sunshine. next year. quiet without them. Phil Bishop (Cap’n Ahab to his The disruption in the house was friends) was more anxious than most. Janet Eaton • Room Steward considerable and it was thanks to the He worked long and hard to bring our whole team here that we were able to electric launch back to a presentable open for the May Bank Holiday with state after its winter sleep under everything in good order. tarpaulin. We launched the vessel on Victoria’s Men As I write the sun is blazing down 14 May. If you have never tried it, you and has been for a couple of days now have missed a treat. Last October Blakeway Productions –long may it continue. We really filmed at Holkham using some of would like to see some long term Mike Daley • Hall Administrator the state rooms and park. The programme, a docu-drama entitled Queen Victoria’s Men, looked at the relationship between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and viewers learnt about the four other men who played important roles in her life. The programme was broadcast on Channel 4 on Monday 2 June at 9pm.

As a result of his recent pay rise the Administrator was – almost – able to afford the wheels of his dreams. Next year he hopes to buy the horse!

Verity Hewlett as a young Queen Victoria The DeLorean Owners’ Club visited Holkham in June on their EuroTec Weekend in the Channel 4 docu-drama

Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 • 3 From The Archives Recently, I was contacted by a man during the Civil War, and the amounts who had found, among his deceased they had to pay in order to raise a rate mother’s papers, a ground plan of the of £52 ‘for the finding and providinge Ancient House, in Holkham village, of armies for the defence of the in 1885. He had no idea why she had country’. It is signed by George it, but he lived near Lowestoft and I Phillips, the churchwarden. remembered that the builder who Such lists have survived because modernised the Ancient House and John Coke of Holkham (the first Coke built many of the present houses in to live here) was a member of the the village in the 1880s had come county committee appointed to

Elmham Park in 1708 supervise these levies for the Parliamentarians. Elmham The park and manor of North Elmham were bought in 1598, but a large part was lost in the 17th century, to pay off part of the enormous debts run up by one of Sir Edward’s grandsons. The family managed, however, to retain the deer park. When Thomas Coke, the future builder of Holkham Hall, succeeded to the estates in 1707, his guardians ordered a report on the Ground plan of The Ancient House, 1885 management of Elmham Park and considered ‘disparking’ it and making a from there. park at Holkham. We compared names and found that Illustrated here is the map drawn by the builder, James Rounce, was his the estate steward, Humphrey Smith, great grandfather! He had not known at that time. These proposals were that his ancestor was a builder, but he dropped, however, and Elmham now knows what contribution he made continued to provide venison for the to the appearance of the village, and I family until the deer were moved to am delighted to say that in return he Holkham in 1845. The old park was gave the plan to the Archives. finally sold in 1944. Fortunately he was not deterred by another coincidence: on calling at the Estate Office, he recognised Laurane Fulmodestone Herrieven, the Marketing Manager, as Fulmodestone had a particularly close a childhood friend who once locked link with Holkham, because on Sir him in a chicken house! Edward’s death in 1634, he left it to his My alphabetical outings round the fourth son, John, who was by then well estate this issue all relate to properties established at Holkham. that Sir Edward Coke bought in the We know from a few surviving 1590s (some years before his first accounts that it provided him with an purchase at Holkham), which then additional rental income, timber from remained part of the estate for over 340 its woods, winter grazing land for part years, until sold in the 1940s. of the Holkham sheep flock, wool, and hops for the brew house. The 2nd Earl in the 19th century Dunton bought another 400 acres at An estate at Dunton cum Doughton, Fulmodestone because of its proximity adjoining South Creake, was bought in to the old estate, but all the 1595. The records that came with it Fulmodestone land was sold between date back to 1312 and are still in the 1945 and 1952. archives. The item illustrated to the right is a list of the inhabitants in 1643, Dunton rate list, 1643 Christine Hiskey • Archivist

Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 • 5 Marketing Department Our previous newsletter editor Paula the Hall. This year the package we of- is now happily ensconced in bonnie fered was a lifetime pass to Holkham Scotland and we wish her and new Hall for two people and we went live husband Simon well. Thank you for bidders on 1 June until 10 June Paula for your superb editorial skills inclusive. The successful bidder was a and dedication in making the local lady who presented her son and Holkham Newsletter a much favoured daughter-in-law with the exclusive and read publication. package. On Sunday 24 February, three days Easter Bank Holiday weekend before they moved, Simon and Paula marked the start of the 2008 Visitors’ tied the knot at Chelsea Old Town Season for the Hall and Bygones Hall. Paula looked a picture in a vivid Museum. The fact that Easter fell so red vintage 1950s dress she purchased early, combined with the dreadful from a website in California, USA. weather, meant that our visitor figures Congratulations Mr and Mrs Lester! were down 50% on last year. Despite We made sure Paula didn’t leave this poor start, group bookings are without saying a proper farewell and looking promising and we will arranged a hen-night for her at The hopefully boost visitor numbers as the Globe. This was Ian Brereton’s first season progresses. week in his new post, so it must have G STOP PRESS We have just learned seemed like a baptism of fire, when that Holkham Beach has been voted fourteen females descended, for what the East Anglian regional winner in turned out to be “a very interesting the Warburtons Best Picnic Spot 2008 evening!” competition, We will now go forward Once again Holkham took part in Simon and Paula tie the knot at Chelsea Old to the national final to find the Town Hall the eBay auction called TopLots. Last country’s favourite picnic spot. year I reported we were supporting the attractions – a rather unusual, but inaugural auction to help raise funds successful, way of raising funds for the Laurane Herrieven • for UK galleries and heritage ongoing heritage work carried out at Marketing Manager Locals’ Day Following the overwhelming success house or museum before, despite it and had enjoyed the event. of the Heritage Open Day in being on their doorstep. They also While entry to the attractions September 2006, when almost 2,000 said how much they had appreciated was free, we invited visitors to visitors visited the attractions free make a donation to the East Anglian of charge, Lord Coke decided to Children’s Hospices (EACH), which launch a similar initiative. has a hospice at Quidenham in Aptly named ‘Locals’ Day’, the Hall Norfolk. Lady Coke is a Patron of and Museum opened up free of the charity, which provides expert charge on Saturday 17 May inviting care for children suffering from a residents from postcodes NR21, range of acute conditions, which are NR22, NR23, NR24 NR25, PE31, likely to lead to death before the PE35 and PE36 to visit. All that was children reach adulthood. required to gain free entry was a A full range of care is provided at utility bill, as proof of residency. the three hospices run by the Thankfully the weather remained charity in East Anglia and an dry for the opening, despite heavy outreach team also provides care in downpours elsewhere within a 20 a family’s home. Our thanks to the mile radius. The doors opened at charity’s two volunteers, Margaret noon and over a period of 4½ and Rodney Hull, who set up a hours we welcomed a grand total of display promoting the charity’s 766 people. valuable work and proudly collected The state rooms in the Hall and a total of £614 in donations. Bygones Museum had a steady flow of visitors, with many commenting Some of the 766 local visitors in the Laurane Herrieven • that they had never visited the Marble Hall Marketing Manager

6 • Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 Holkham Theatre Forthcoming Attractions Well it’s that time of year again, when lowing dates in your diary and join us but the foulest of weather. So bring we’re starting to venture out into the in the Pottery Yard this theatre season. your picnics and chairs, Pimms or pop, wilderness we call our garden and Come along early to take advantage friends and family and enjoy the wonder at the marvels of nature and of some retail therapy in the Pottery evening’s entertainment brought to the holes dug by family pets!! Shop and partake of a Holkham ice you by five very experienced and We may have started to tentatively cream before the show starts. highly innovative theatre companies. think of summer and booking holidays Obviously we’re hoping for sun- Hope to share your company. so with this in mind please put the fol- shine, as all shows will go ahead in all Kerry Cave • Events Co-ordinator

Peter Pan unfold before you. ill-fitting disguises and unexpected Adults £10; Concession £7; Family £30 romances await you in this world- Tuesday 29th July at 6.00pm renowned comedy. Watch as Peter Pan brings the Adults £10; Concessions £7; Family £30 dastardly villain, Captain Hook to Alice’s Adventures in justice and let your imagination run riot with the Lost Boys. Wonderland Sleeping Beauty Saturday 16th August at 5.00pm Adults £10; Concessions £7; Family £30 Wednesday 27th August at 6.00pm Complete with the Cheshire Cat, the A princess is cursed at birth by a Queen of Hearts and a tea party with wicked fairy and sleeps for a hundred Mad & Merry the most bewildering bunch of guests! years until a handsome prince awakes Adults £11; Children & Students £7; Monarchs her with a single kiss. Come in your Family £32 Friday 1st August at 7.00pm favourite fairytale fancy dress and join Join us as we are led through 1,000 in the parade. years of British monarchy and see Charley’s Aunt Adults £9; Children £6; Family £28 battles, decapitations, dastardly Friday 22nd August at 7.00pm plotting and passionate infidelities A frantic series of mistaken identities, The Ticket Office I have spent a very quiet winter in the Bygones Museum, hopefully selling theatre tickets on the days that the Hall updating the signage for Brian Ayton to ensure a uniform and Museum are closed. look to all the display information. Back with me is Kerry Cave, working on Sundays and The time passed very quickly (due to the winter being co-ordinating the theatre productions. We are joined by so short, I’m told), but I managed to get it all finished, Louise Lance who works from Wednesday to Saturday in and fit in a few days holiday as well, in time to be back in peak season. the ticket office for Easter opening. We hope that the weather is better than last year and As last year, we are selling tickets for the theatre that we all have a busy summer. productions as well as the admission tickets for the House and Museum. In peak season this year, the office will be open 7 days a week, acting as an information point and Christine Hawkes • Ticket Office

Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 • 7 Holkham Retail In January, the year started off well in by the talented artist David Cook the shops with customers taking which ran throughout June. advantage of our sale at Ancient House Finally, you will have read in the last to obtain gifts at very competitive Newsletter that Holkham Pottery prices. Some customers told us that closed down last year, and work is now they were already buying presents for under way to clear the factory. Even for Christmas 2008 (provided they could those of us who have been here only a remember where they had stored them few years, it is nevertheless rather sad to after that length of time!). witness the clearance. As usual Spring Fair, the largest Trade The very oldest large kiln has already Fair in UK, heralds the start of February been removed along with all the and lines which we sourced there were cupboards throughout the factory. The delivered earlier than they normally men carrying out the removal certainly would be, to get them on the shelves for had no easy task! a very early Easter. Pottery manufactured here at We were kept busy in both shops The oldest Holkham Pottery kiln in the Holkham over the years is very process of being dismantled during the early May Bank Holiday, collectable, and we still have stocks while the sun shone, and at The cooler weather, both in The Pottery which were manufactured prior to the Pottery Shop with Locals’ Day on Shop and at Ancient House Gift Shop closure. So do come along to the shops 17 May. It was nice to see so many local and Gallery. The shop in the park and see some of the pieces that Douglas people in the shop and everyone we benefited of course from the Caravan Codman and Jane Bray made for us, spoke to was enjoying it and seemed to Club Rally and had many customers. and perhaps take away a little reminder be relaxed and in good spirits. Martin Billing, the Gallery of Holkham Pottery. The late May Bank Holiday was a Administrator, organised a very successful weekend for us, despite the successful Wildlife Exhibition of work Sylvia Daley • Retail Manager

G STOP PRESS We have taken the decision to rent out the Ancient House to Mark Elliot Furniture. Over its history the building has had many uses – from bakery to private house to being an annex for the Victoria Hotel in the 1960s and for the last thirty-five years a shop selling Holkham pottery, gifts and paintings. It was a decision not taken lightly, but reflects our strategy to concentrate on core estate businesses. I am confident that Mark Elliot Furniture, a company with a strong East Anglian brand, will add to the strength of Holkham village as a ‘destination’. Viscount Coke Holkham Foods The Stables Café is up and running for the new season. We guns – Aaron Ward is one of the new faces to join us this have welcomed back returning staff and a couple of new year as my new ice cream maker. He has taken to the job faces have joined the team this year. like a duck to water and we are delighted he is part of the The Stables started with a washout of an Easter but team. things got better with the first May Bank Holiday and We have been trying new flavours this year. I have been better still by the second May Bank Holiday. We had the testing one or two sorbets and we have just made open day for local people in May as well and we had a busy Cardamom ice cream for The Globe as a special request for day serving lots of tea, coffee and cake. their Indian Nights – it has been a great success. Of course the big event so far this year was the Caravan The trailer is now down at the beach for five days a week Club National Rally which was held selling all the things that people forget over the late May Bank Holiday. They when they put a picnic together. They seemed to be here for a long time also sell Holkham ice cream there setting things up, and then the caravans through the summer. arrived in all their glory. Do come and see us at The Stables The Saturday was quite quiet and or the trailer. The Stables is open from there was an air of doom about the Easter to the end of October, seven Café, but on Sunday and Monday we days a week in June, July and August, had people everywhere and Monday and the trailer is open five to seven turned into the second busiest day days a week depending on the time of we’ve had since I have worked here – a year and the weather conditions. As an constant stream of people queuing out added incentive staff discounts are of the door. At one point we didn’t available at both outlets. know where our queue ended and the Ticket Office one started! Ice cream production is going great Satisfied customers eating at The Stables Wendy Mason • Holkham Foods

8 • Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 Holkham Village Post Office 1733 – 2008 Very soon Holkham Village Post licences themselves, Anglian Water Office will close. Situated at the rear Authority savings stamps and their of Ancient House, with its lovely view bill paying facility, along with other of the walled garden, it is a real sun things, were all to bring about the trap during its morning opening hours. final outcome. Offering foreign History will also be made as the Earl currency didn’t replace useful of Leicester will cease to be a everyday items on the shopping list. Postmaster; an appointment held by Early February 2000 saw me back at the Earls of Leicester since the 1730s. a desk learning the mysteries of the There have been three Post Offices; Post Office computerised system, two in cottages in New Holkham and passing the examination and gaining Holkham Village and one in the Hall. the required certificate to have the With the death of the 5th Earl in equipment installed here on 1976, the hereditary appointment Valentine’s Day. Already in my 60s, I ceased. The then Lord Coke wasn’t exactly over the moon about successfully applied and was able to operating this. To this day, although I provide suitable premises in the can appreciate its advantages, I would Ancient House, so the tradition still prefer my pen, pencil and paper continued. and when the electricity blips I feel Althea Butters, Angela Smith and justified in being a bit regretful at Mary Tuck all did stints behind the their passing. counter in the office’s first five years of Countless visitors remark on the opening. It was over 25 years ago on a put the hall and estate in order and pleasant surroundings, telling me how Saturday morning, (yes, it opened 5½ the ladies, on their days off, would tell lucky I am. We then chat about the days a week originally), with Mary me all about the ‘downstairs’ north wall being the original sea Tuck away on holiday and Sybil workings. All had spent their working defence, the ancient light and which Stimpson her holiday relief going into days at Holkham and were full of cottages date from the 1700s. I then hospital, that I was asked to “hold the stories. recall, but don’t voice, how menacing fort”. For a time Mary and I shared the As each new batch retired, their that same lovely wall used to seem opening hours but since it became a pension books would appear and their when we locked up completely alone Community Office with restricted weekly visit was added to the list. As at 5.30pm on dark winter days. The hours of business on 19 July 1989, and everyone was so regular, it made it shop only opened in the summer then. with Mary’s retirement, I have ‘flown quite an easy task to assess the cash How much I appreciated the late John solo’. requirements for the week. With the Massingham appearing to see if all was Sadly, Post Office business has change to banking, it is an impossible well if my car was late leaving. declined with all the changes that task to estimate exact requirements, as It will be sad to lock the door on the have taken place, particularly in the so many options are open to customers Post Office’s final day but all the last four years or so. Very enjoyable and the occupancy of the estate criteria needed to argue for its pension morning gatherings were the houses has changed greatly. continuation were not applicable. norm when I originally stood behind Villagers and visitors alike loved to Along with its closure and Lord the counter. Messrs. Barnes, Dunn, speculate on the purchase of £2 and Leicester’s retirement as Sub Loose and Hewitt etc. would verbally £5 Premium Savings Bonds, getting Postmaster, comes my retirement as the Holkham date ‘Officer in Charge’. stamp on them. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Children learned to quarter-century of my involvement manage their with Holkham and its people, not finances, proudly forgetting those regulars from nearby using their Savings villages and the visitors. I expect to Bank books. miss it greatly. After serving myself for Minimum over 40 years it will seem unfamiliar purchases of £100 to experience the other side of the Premium Savings screen. I shall miss being able to Bonds issued respond to all the customers who centrally, and £20 complain about the cost of postage, minimum deposits, that when I started, stamps and ice saw these creams were priced alike – that’s transactions almost changed too! disappear. Later the loss of TV licence Bridget (Biddy) Bunkle • Holkham Post Office The very attractive Holkham Post Office savings stamps, the

Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 • 9 The Caravan Club National Rally On the Bank Holiday weekend of the 2008 Caravan Club National 23 to 27 May, over 3,000 caravans, Rally. The Club last held its National motor caravans and RVs wended Rally here in 1996, and twelve years their way along the roads of Norfolk later the Club was delighted to make to arrive at Holkham, the venue for a return trip for what was its 81st National get-together. The Club returned to Holkham because, despite not being a central location, it is such a beautiful one. It was also nice to be here in only Lord Coke’s second year as the Club’s President. He and his family camped out every night in their 1965 Airstream and thoroughly enjoyed their first rally. All the infrastructure required before the caravanners arrived was ably handled by Caravan Club officers and volunteers, who moved onto the site about a month before the Rally and strung many hundreds of yards of water pipes and electrical – Clowes Ian © www.goldysolutions.co.uk cables around so that it was a simple Testing the connections – water and electricity matter for everyone to hook up as were provided to all pitches they arrived at their pitches. © Mike Daley, Holkham Daley, Mike © vending stands, selling burgers, fish Here they come – some of over 3,000 The needs of 8,000 people were and chips and the like. There was caravans who spent the weekend at Holkham catered for by a selection of food also a small supermarket run by Londis, which supplied all the vital items that, even with the best preparation, always seem to get forgotten when you leave home to go on your holidays! The Club had put together a busy and varied programme of events and entertainment, which ensured that everyone there always had something to do, something to see and somewhere to go. It even had its own ‘Rally Radio’ station. For the many children on the site the Club had set up the Mayday Club offering – among other things – arts

10 • Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 intention of the organisers was that there should be something to do throughout the weekend so that the ralliers were offered a complete package. To this

end there were sporting Holkham Daley, Mike © events such as netball and football competitions where county Caravan Club groups competed against each other for © Mike Daley, Holkham Daley, Mike © Lord Coke’s beautiful Airstream caravan joins the party prizes. There was a fun run for the very enthusiastic, Two huge marquees were erected to keep everyone sheltered during the evening entertainments laid on over the four evenings of the Rally. There was a 70s night, complete with comedians, a Celine Dion tribute with Tracey Shield – a past winner of Stars in Their Eyes, a Dance Night and a Variety Night. The undoubted highlight of the weekend was a 60s night starring Herman’s Hermits, The Searchers and Marty Wilde and the Wildcats – it was a fabulous sell-out show, much enjoyed by 1,800 people Early arrivers get the shopping in while more who rocked the night away! caravans stream through the gates However, there wasn’t only Netball was just one of the sports on offer evening entertainment on offer – the an It’s a Knockout-style event, a dog over the weekend show to keep the large number of dogs (and their owners) entertained, a One Man and His Dog show with a twist, in that the dogs were in fact geese and so on and so on. The opening ceremony, attended by Lord and Lady Coke and members of the Caravan Club’s executive committee, featured the stirring music and precision marching of the Minden Band of the Queen’s – Clowes Ian © above picture Panorama left Picture • Limited Photography Bond Alan © picture ball Net • www.goldysolutions.co.uk Division, resplendent in their uniforms on a fine but windy weekend. There was no way that the weather was going to get in the way of what turned out to be a fantastic © Alan Bond Photography Limited Photography Bond Alan © Lord and Lady Coke enjoying the opening ceremony four days for all concerned.

Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 • 11 Pinewoods Holiday Park Bringing The I live about twenty miles from Wells- and seeded in an attempt to put the next-the-Sea and the only morning I tent fields back to how they used to be Outside In had problems driving to work turned before the 2007 rains. out to be Easter Sunday with the snow. During the winter we invested in a After a month away with my Two events stick in my mind – one lad new reception and a recycling centre, camera in America earlier this year, with a stock pile of snowballs which he both of which have been much it was great to return to Holkham threw at any youngster walking past appreciated by our customers. to find out that Bringing The and the children using the slope at the Reception opened on time with very Outside In had been awarded Best edge of the touring field to slide down few teething problems. The extra Coastal Shop Runner Up in the on sledges. Thankfully Easter goes back space and comfort enables us to offer Coast Awards, featured in Coast to a later date for the foreseeable future one of the best holiday park receptions Magazine. so normal seaside kit will be required. in the area. Our team finds the After two years of hard work Park opening is always a challenge, environment much more comfortable it was great to get national particularly when Good Friday is the with improved heating, lighting and recognition. Coast readers also first Friday of the season. My thanks go the extra room. voted Holkham Beach runner up to all the team at Pinewoods who The recycling was held up due to the for best beach, keeping North meticulously completed all the contractor not being able to lay the Norfolk on the map. required tasks. This resulted in us concrete because of frost at night. Now With new branding launching opening with no problems to trouble all we need is for the landscaping to soon and a list of new suppliers, the us, other than the one and a half grow to shield the units. This is not summer is looking good. inches of rain which fell the first night helped by the Muntjac eating the tips The annual exhibition of my local and the snows of Easter. General of the new plants. Currently we have coastal photography will launch on Managers of holiday businesses in the containers for paper/card and glass; we Saturday 2 August, and will continue Mediterranean must get bored without have also purchased wheelie bins for to run throughout the summer. the peculiarities of our British weather. both the sales office and reception/ Bringing The Outside In is open During the winter we had a specialist accounts so everything which does not daily from 10.30 – 4 except Tuesday. company in to clean out the dykes, need shredding is recycled. All with the expectation that in the long- cardboard from the shop is collected Martin Billing • Gallery Owner term this would improve the park on a daily basis by the site team. We drainage. For a brief period this have built the area large enough to company made things worse because expand the recycling operation; this the digger ended up in the dyke and it would be speeded up if local took some time to remove! authorities in our catchment area This operation has helped the park offered the same recycling enormously and we can now see the opportunities. change in levels as the tides come in We are hopeful that 2008 will be a and out and the water is noticeably much better season than last year, but lower by the train station, something I we do need the weather so please stop have not seen since I have been at rain dancing for the next few months. Pinewoods. The maintenance team has filled the holes in the wettest areas Richard Seabrooke • General Manager

Bringing The Outside In offers a lovely, eclectic mix of pictures, crafts, books and other moreish stuff! The smart new reception area at Pinewoods

12 • Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 Holkham Farming Game Company Ltd Department I started at Holkham at the beginning of March, replacing Michael Turner who has moved on to bigger and different things. We wish him well for the future. I arrived into bright sunshine following a warm, dry bright February. Spring Barley was all drilled and everything was looking well. Week two and all change – just as the sugarbeet drill left the shed the heavens opened, delaying the start of drilling by a week. A stop-start drilling season with 81mm of rain in March saw all the sugarbeet drilled by the middle of April. Most of it felt like it had been drilled at the weekend! Then the new swamp in the park was addressed. An almost dry week resulted in the fields being ploughed and the majority of the area drilled to linseed; returning to the Holkham cropping after a break of a number of years. I hope it will yield well and can be marketed into the currently very buoyant oilseed market. The newly acquired Castle Acre farms look well, although there is still a very high weed burden – a legacy of its organic farming days. It might take more than one season to tidy up but it has a lot of potential for the future. The new Knight sprayer is well christened, clocking 250 hours in the first six weeks with only minor problems. New combine harvesters are expected to I arrived at Holkham on 24 April to arrive at Longlands in the next few weeks, although the old one can still be take on the role of Head Keeper. I found working occasionally. have been a keeper for over 24 Mark Bowyer • Farms Manager years now but have spent the last six years working for the Van Cutsem family on their wild bird shoot in North Yorkshire. Having spent some time with the other keepers on the estate and getting to know the large number of staff here I am now looking forward to the busy months ahead. April through to June are some of the most important months in the shooting calendar as pheasants and partridges begin to nest and hatch young. Over these months the keepers will be busy retrieving the surplus eggs from the wild to set under broody hens. The rearing field Harrowing spring barley at Waterden in February 2008 in a Massey Ferguson 135 driven by was set up and the chicks started Stephen Hall. This was the first tractor Lord Leicester bought on Park Farm in 1973 hatching from the middle of May. To help with this busy period the estate has recently purchased five Forestry Department new Honda quad bikes. We carried out a survey in ‘The Oaks’ on the condition of the trees there Nick Parker • Head Keeper and found that three needed to be removed, a horse chestnut and an Ilex with fungus at the base and a lime tree with die back in the crown. These were felled and removed. An oak tree has been planted where the lime tree stood in memory of a member of the armed forces. We also took out a lot of low boughs in this area. We removed two Ilex trees at Octagon Cottage in Holkham. They were rather large and stretched the Nifty Lift machine to its limit. We supplied hazel branches for the Stiffkey River restoration project at Warham for the first time. We have cleared up a lot of gale damage after the Easter gales. Several loads of Ilex branches have gone to London Zoo for the giraffes. The magnificent five! New quad bikes for Ian McNab • Head Woodsman the Game Department

Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 • 13 Building Maintenance

As reported in the last newsletter I promised to give you an update on the major changes at Holkham Building Maintenance. Very sadly we have had to make a number of redundancies, 14 in number, and so our workforce is now down to 12 people. We have now been able to purchase a new computer programme and we should have gone live by the time you read this newsletter; this will enable us to monitor the jobs better and give the tenants dates as to when the work can be done, this will also allow us to carry out the works on a schedule of rates, which I believe has not been done on the estate before. Using the National schedule of Rates is an average cost for all types of building repairs in the country, which The stunning ‘Giant’s Seat’ – oiled and painted in Holkham linseed products will show that the trustee’s are getting value for money, which I’m sure you to oil and paint in linseed products. reduce his hours to two days a week so will agree is what we all want from the Our teams worked really hard on the that he can enjoy semi-retirement people we employ. project and I think you will agree that with his wife Jane. We would like to The schedule of rates is going out to the finished product was quite wish both Maurice and Avelino good health and happiness for the future. tender to local contractors to price amazing – as pictured. We would also like to congratulate and we hope to have a contractor in Work on the drainage system is Robert Savory on passing his second place at the beginning of July to take nearing the end now. It has been a year carpentry exams as well as his on the day-to-day maintenance of mammoth project but the whole driving test. properties on the estate. process is working really well. Our At the moment we are employing contractors Garner Groundworks contractors to carry out our plumbing have worked tirelessly to get Holkham Barry Turner • Building Maintenance works and larger projects are being Village linked into the system and we Manager tendered for by local contractors. are hopeful that the one remaining Fisher and Son (Fakenham) Ltd have property (Hill House Farm, Holkham) been carrying out our plumbing jobs will be completed by the summer. and their team of Barry Rob, Daniel Training is on going here at Rob and Alistair Finn along with Jim Holkham Building Maintenance. It is Mitchell, Mike Brunton and Stuart important that we are all aware of our Lingwood who co-ordinate our working environment and the hazards requests from the office are at present that can be found here. We also use a providing us with a good service. huge amount of machinery which we This winter seems to have lasted need to understand and respect in forever and the high winds caused a order for us to be safe at all times. As number of problems for us with the you can see from the picture even the main offender being roof tiles coming office staff (Dawn) are getting some off. Lets hope that we have a fantastic training in! summer so that our external repairs We have had two 65th birthdays and redecoration programme can be since our last newsletter. One of our completed. It is the turn of Quarles carpenters Avelino de Brito Pereira and Castle Acre this year with work turned 65 in March and has decided starting in the summer, weather to stay with us for a little while longer. permitting. Avelino started work with Hectors Our Joinery and Windowcraft teams Housing before moving to Holkham have been involved in a private job Building Maintenance in 2005. for a ‘Giants’ Seat’. We provided the Maurice Bray turned 65 in May and Swedish timber for Mr Thomas as many of you will know Maurice has Sedgwick to build the three part spent all of his working life at bench and then it was returned to us Holkham. Maurice has decided to Getting the staff in training!

14 • Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 Windowcraft Department

Peter May and William Owen coming down on the cherry picker, having put chicken wire on the chimneys to stop the Jackdaws nesting at Model Farm, the residence of Lord and Lady Leicester Holkham Linseed Paints We have had a very good start to the year so far, sales have been picking up very well indeed since the beginning of April, and all just in time for our end of the financial year. We have sent out a large quantity of paint to the Isle of Man government and are looking forward to hearing how they are getting on with the paints. Adam Lovick of the Windowcraft It appears the word is spreading about Holkham Linseed Paints as we have Department embarks on the restoration recently been receiving a lot of enquiries about the paint from painters and of an old door architects in Scotland who have been asked to specify our paints, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that the large orders continue to come in. Rebecca Amphlett and I stood in for Amanda Taylor at the EcoBuild Exhibition at Earl’s Court in London at the end of February. It was the first time that either of us had been there, and only the second time that we have had a stand at the event. It was a good experience for both of us as well as offering potential customers a chance to get a better understanding of the paint before they buy. In January we had an enquiry from a lady in Cromer called Jean Gardner who was opening an interior design shop and was very interested in becoming a retailer of Holkham Linseed Paints as she was already familiar with the product from when she worked at Eastern Interiors. We are now pleased to say that The Norfolk House Company was as impressed with our products as we are and is now part of our group of retailers for customers to buy our products from. Davey Ingram • Holkham Linseed And how the door will look when it’s Paints finished. Quite a difference!

Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 • 15 Accel-o-Fac plant all sewered up The new wastewater treatment plant for Holkham village is now all connected and in full operation. John Gillett, Managing Director of LAS International, the company responsible for building the plant, explains all. The month of May 2008 saw the final digesting sludge process that requires The Accel-o-FacTM system was connections being made to the no pre-screening, sedimentation tanks developed 30 years ago in the United Holkham village wastewater or clarifiers, no sludge removal, States by LAS International where it treatment plant. dewatering or conditioning, and best has been used extensively in a variety This is the first Accel-o-FacTM plant of all, no routine sludge disposal and of wastewater treatment applications. to be constructed in England and it the associated lorry traffic in and out Praised by the North Norfolk was commissioned just over two years of the works. All sludge is planning authority for its soft ago by the Estate. continuously self digested within the engineering and sustainable approach The Holkham plant has attracted initial treatment stage. to sewage treatment, the Holkham considerable attention from water Another feature of the treatment plant is proving to be an elegant, companies in both the UK and system is the very low energy odour-free solution to the village’s Europe. Visitors from as far afield as requirement. LAS is unique in its use wastewater treatment needs. Greece and Romania have appraised of a fully biological the plant and feedback has been process. Instead of universally positive. relying on Anglian Water seems to have been electricity, the particularly impressed, so much so Accel-o-FacTM that it has commissioned a similar system uses wind plant, currently under construction at energy to optimise Sutton St James in Lincolnshire, with the biological several more planned over the next conditions in the few years. treatment cells The Accel-o-FacTM process, whilst natural designed by LAS International Ltd., surface absorption marks a more sustainable approach to provides the wastewater treatment for small rural oxygen needed for communities. the treatment This treatment system incorporates process and a number of highly unique features, positive odour not the least of which is a self- control. Plans on paper – how it all started out

16 • Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 Finance Department the financial outlook and how it might impact on individuals and companies (regrettably many of the prospects I outlined have materialised in the wider economy). I genuinely found it to be a very rewarding exercise. It was good to be able to see so many of our team at Holkham but it was also a real pleasure to be able to see how, after a couple of minutes, wariness of financial matters evaporated: arms unfolded, people sat forward and before long sensible, challenging and engaging questions were being asked. I think that there is a case for an annual update of this exercise. Mike Wyard the Finance Director showing that estate performance is on the up! The Finance Department is similarly engaging with the wider Estate. As I A notable feature of the last few provided an atmosphere that allowed write all of my team are currently months has been the series of finance for a useful dialogue on different interviewing Heads and owners trying presentations I hosted for employees. I aspects of Estate finances. to establish the most important began before Christmas with a talk for I addressed the perplexing question features of the services that we offer. Department Heads in two separate of what the Finance Department is for Essentially it is all about trying to sessions at Longlands. There was keen and what it does (I think many make sure that our customers, internal interest and the managers encouraged attendees were genuinely surprised at and external, are getting the services me to undertake a similar exercise the extent of the Estate and its they need and the value that they with their teams over winter. transactional complexity), as well as a should get from those services. Some In the New Year I requisitioned the summary of Estate performance over interesting responses have arisen and Pinewoods coffee lounge for a dozen recent years. Attendees also gained an the exercise has reinforced my employee presentations, in groups of understanding of how each section or perception of how vital it is for all eight to twelve. I think the fact that company fitted into the ‘whole’. parts of the Holkham Estate to the groups were fairly small and The presentation went on to understand their customer base. relaxed (Mr Seabrooke has invested in consider a few financial ‘myths’ and very comfy furniture at Pinewoods!) finished up with my personal view of Mike Wyard • Finance Director Holkham National Nature Reserve challenges was trying to prevent the pair of Swallows that nest in the barn grazing marshes from flooding too at our office in the village didn’t turn much – a little flooding is a good thing up until the beginning of June this year. for all the wintering ducks and geese As I write this, the bird breeding but too much can have a bad effect on season is well underway and numbers the quality of the grazing for the of all the wildfowl and wading birds following summer. I think we got the look good. Many of these now have balance just about right! young – the Little Egrets and The beginning of 2008 saw major staff Holkham usually attracts a few rare Cormorants have large and noisy changes here on the National Nature birds during the spring. The most offspring in their nests. Reserve. Vicky Francis and I started notable this year were a Whiskered On the quieter and more remote our new jobs in December and have Tern that graced the pools west of beaches Common Terns and Little spent six months settling in and getting Lady Anne’s Drive for an afternoon Terns have settled into their breeding to grips with the tasks involved in and a Hoopoe that spent several days colonies and are incubating eggs. The managing such a large and complex on Overy Dunes. These are Mediter- terns are always at risk from high tide site. There have been lots of new ranean species that overshot their flooding and from predators but we people with whom to establish destination when returning from their hope that all our breeding species will working relationships. winter quarters, ending up in Norfolk. have a successful season. The second half of the winter was Some of our common summer Michael Rooney • very wet and one of our major migrants were very late in arriving. The Senior Reserve Manager

Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 • 17 The Victoria Hotel We have experienced a number of In January three windows were setbacks at the Victoria since being “Windowcrafted”. Whilst we wait for voted the Norfolk Dining Pub of the the rooms to come back on line, two year in 2007 by the readers of The more bedrooms and our lounge Good Pub Guide. The death of head windows will be properly repaired and chef Andy Bruce in November 2007, painted with Holkham Linseed Paint. reported in the last issue, still weighs We will also repair the chimney to heavy on us. The credit crunch has allow us to use the fire in winter. affected our figures, as it has those of It gives me the greatest pleasure to other establishments along the coast. announce the return of Ian and Lisa More recently we have endured two Clark from Spain. They return, older unforeseen incidents. The first one Not the best way to leave the car park! and wiser, to take up their old job as involved an elderly couple taking an resourcefulness we had the bar and managers of the hotel. We are very unconventional route via the garden, BBQ up and running within three excited by this. They were both very in their attempt to exit the car park. days. We also used the opportunity to popular with staff and customers alike. The second one has led to the closure give the hotel a spring clean. They will set high standards…. and of the hotel bedrooms for about three Many thanks also to Barry Turner maintain them. I am confident they weeks. We had a series of hot water and Holkham Building Maintenance, are the right people to guide the good pipes leak, to such an extent that the Fishers plumbers and our insurers, the Queen Vic toward calmer seas. dining room resembled a tropical NFU, for such a prompt response in rainstorm. Thanks to our team’s coming forward with a rescue package. Viscount Coke The Globe The Globe Inn at Wells has enjoyed a food – bangers and mash, spotted for a good time in Wells! So, we have busy Spring period and despite some dick and lumpy custard, plus a group been highly flexible in our style and horrible Easter weather in March the of not so young Essex girls looking approach. pub was packed with families, bored Joining the Globe as General children and very soggy dogs! By May Manager in February after nearly five Bank Holiday weekend the weather years running the Lord Nelson at had become almost summery and Burnham Thorpe, I have introduced again the pub was very busy over this several new themes including curry period. evenings and Jazz nights. Several private bookings to With summer here the Globe will celebrate birthdays and anniversaries be offering barbeques in the pleasant have added to the high level of courtyard with jazz twice a week business. Groups have included an through July and August. Chris entertaining party of Harley- Woodget has been appointed head Davidson bikers (following a good chef and we have a keen lively team write up on The Globe in their both in the kitchen and out front. magazine), Lord Coke’s old boys reunion, for which we served school Ian Brereton • General Manager Obituaries G David Whately MC, who died on 24 April 2008 aged 84, varied career started in photography, then advertising, then was awarded the MC in Italy in April 1945 when he was he became a stockbroker specialising in an esoteric branch serving with the 9th Lancers. Whilst attacking a German of research based on charts. He was unconventional in position his tank was hit, perforating his eardrum. Though in thought and at work. He married the dress designer Belinda considerable pain he continued to attack and capture three Bellville in 1952, and is survived by her and three daughters, 150mm guns and two 88mm anti-aircraft guns and countless Lady Coke being the youngest. enemy. His citation proclaimed “The resolution and G Len Dunn, who died on 14 March 2008 aged 88, was born determination of this officer in pressing home his attack in Holkham village and spent most of his working life on the undoubtedly caused the enemy to become disorganised, and estate, starting in the sawmill at Longlands. resulted in the squadron gaining its objective and capturing He saw active service in Europe in World War II, returning the bridge intact although it was prepared for demolition”. to the estate in 1946 to work in the kitchen gardens. He He was educated at Eton and at Sandhurst won the Sword moved to the Terraces where he was promoted to head of Honour. After the war he went to Oxford University. His gardener, and he retired age 62.

18 • Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 A new arrival Justin and Ros Gibbs’ second son Charles Duncan was born in Taupo New Zealand on 7 February 2008. Charlie weighed 3.89kg, and arrived a week early – his maternal grand- parents Johnny and Carolyn Coke, were in Hong Kong on their way to New Zealand when they heard the news. Picture © Norwich Evening News Evening Norwich © Picture New butler interviewed On 29 February I was interviewed by light, and gave my very first interview Norwich Evening News in the Main all about myself! Library at Holkham. Photographs to accompany the article The proud parents (and brother) with the This came about when my father were taken in the Library and outside new arrival went into ECN in Norwich to ask if on the South Terrace. Afterwards the they would like to run a story about a interview was conducted in the Library local man aged 30 who works as a with Rebecca Gough in the presence butler. The Evening News runs a of Laurane Herrieven, Holkham’s Raffle result regular feature about local people and Marketing Manager. In May we held a raffle in the Estate the jobs that they do and thought it I thoroughly enjoyed myself and have Office for a portable DVD player, won would make an intriguing story. since been approached by Country Life by Sylvia Daley, our Retail Manager. Rebecca Gough at the paper phoned to do a similar interview with them. At We raised £50 which we donated to and asked if I would agree to be this rate I might have to get my own the East Anglian Air Ambulance. interviewed and after consultation ‘agent’. Thank you to all those who helped with Lord Coke and Mary Rudd, our raise money for a very worthy cause. PR Advisor, I was given the green Daniel Green • Butler Estate Office Holkham Cricket – Estate v Club It has been pleasantly surprising to The June game turned in the play our first two 20-over matches Estate’s favour, thanks to Piers between the Holkham Cricket Club Richings whose link with us is getting and Holkham Estate without being more tenuous – he ‘used’ to live in a affected by the weather. house that ‘used’ to be a Holkham The first game in May was a draw. house. He has now moved to Both teams scored exactly 105 runs. Hindringham. Stars for the estate were Kevin Bray Piers scored 25 not out, Martin (Farms) – 22 runs and two wickets Joyce scored 23 not out and Paul for 17, and Martin Joyce (Game Matthews (Woods Department) 15 Department), 27 not out. not out. Successful bowlers were It was encouraging to see new Roger Combe (Lord Coke’s cousin An interested audience! blood making an impression with and grandson to the 5th Earl’s sister) Chris Mills (Victoria) keeping wicket who got two for five and Martin 2 July at the cricket pitch at the front very professionally and scoring 19 Joyce on two for eight. of the house. Do come and watch quick fire runs. Robert Savory (HBM) The Estate overhauled the club’s this nail-biting decider – there are bowled well, as did Stephen ‘Shrek’ total of 92 with an over to go to win few better things to do than Hall (Farms), they both picked up a the match despite dropping six watch the sun set over the lake, wicket, though the latter’s may have catches and losing six wickets on the listen to the sound of leather on had more to do with the financial way... but at least that meant nearly willow and have a bit of a mardle. remuneration he offered the umpire everyone had a bat, and sore hands. than accuracy. The final game is on Wednesday Viscount Coke

Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008 • 19 Holkham People WELCOME HOLKHAM ENTERPRISES (Hall): Lady Coke’s new Mark Bowyer housekeeper, Tracey Davies, whose new role at Holkham HOLKHAM GAME DEPARTMENT: new Head Keeper, includes looking after children, flower arranging and keeping Nick Parker the house in tip top order. New stewards: Jean Bourne, Rory PINEWOODS HOLIDAY PARK: Kelvin Armiger, Philippa Gould, Laura Smith, Martin Webb, Tony Peach, Catherine Cooke, Andrew Fuller, Christine Mahon and Nicole Parker Cockrill and Jean Loose THE VICTORIA HOTEL: new managers Ian and Lisa Clark, HOLKHAM FOODS: Jody Page, Samantha Price, Emma Aneta Jedrzejczyk, Kasia Czulak, Tania Guerreiro, Maciek Weller, Emma Reynolds, Karen Beck, Aaron Ward, Sylvia Weber, Shannon Howard, Leonard Swinin, Charlotte Greedy Dabrowska and Ian Mallet (Reception) HOLKHAM GARDEN DEPARTMENT: new Head Gardener, THE GLOBE INN: Ian Brereton, Robert Williamson, Satu Tim Marshall Purtilo, Chris Black and Stella Goodey (who combines the role HOLKHAM FARMING COMPANY: new Farm Manager, of waitress with that of resident jazz singer!) WELCOME BACK HOLKHAM ENTERPRISES (Bygones): Laura Comer PINEWOODS HOLIDAY PARK: Julie English, Ricky Jordan, HOLKHAM FOODS: Tarquin Bix, Dot Cooper, Vanessa Dack, Louise Palmer, Andrew Reid, Tom Sands and Claire Walker Andrew Featherstone, Becky Fowle, Emily Gould, Taylor THE VICTORIA HOTEL: Alex Thoury and Manuel Palma Hammond, Jamie Hepher, Eileen Heyhoe, Bethany Mahon, THE GLOBE INN: Phil Wakeman, back from his trip to China Leanne Page, Victoria Smith and Simon Weller FAREWELL HOLKHAM BUILDING MAINTENANCE: Sharon Yates, HOLKHAM ENTERPRISES (Gardens): Head Gardener Peter who left in April to start a new position as medical secretary at Goodwin the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn THE VICTORIA HOTEL: Phil Lance, Alan Clarke, Matej HOLKHAM FARMING COMPANY: Farm Manager Michael Danovsky, Robert Dodman, Mary Edwards, Rhayne Heynike, Turner Lukasc Norek, Malwina Piatyszek, Filipe Rodrigues, Kim GAME DEPARTMENT: Head Keeper Simon Lester Sheppard, Jamie St John and Luke Wheeler CONGRATULATIONS HOLKHAM ENTERPRISES (Gift Shops): Julie Gould, who GAME DEPARTMENT: Nick Parker and his fiancée Kate who became a grandma in January when her daughter Sally and were married on 21 June. James Beckerleg on his promotion husband James had a daughter, Bethany from student to Under-keeper HOLKHAM FOODS: Taylor Hammond, voted on to the THE GLOBE INN: Peter Miozja, Tansy Moore and Chris National Youth Parliament for the next two years by her school Woodget, all of whom have been promoted GET WELL SOON Mary Edwards (Room Steward) currently recuperating Philip Freezer (Holkham Building Maintenance) currently following a bad fall recovering from an operation BIRTHS James and Emma Harrison of Hall Farm, Wighton had a Fulford, son Harvey, weighing in at 8lbs 6oz on 18 January 2008 daughter, Isabella Rose, on 20 April 2008, a sister for Oscar Congratulations to Sharon Thorn (Victoria) and Gary Douglas and Alfred (The Globe) on the birth of their son, Daniel Johnny and Carolyn Coke’s daughter Ros and her husband Zak Maufe (son of Holkham tenant Teddy at Branthill) and his Justin Gibbs’ second son Charles Duncan was born in New wife Nadia have had a son, Kai, born in San Francisco on Zealand on 7 February 2008 5 March 2008 To Pinewoods Park Manager Jacki Ramm and fiancé Ross DEATHS David Whately MC, who died on 24 April 2008, aged 84. David Ruffles, who died on 8 May 2008 aged 60 Father to Viscountess Coke Ena Dodman, wife of Eric Dodman (long-serving gamekeeper Len Dunn, who died on 14 March 2008 aged 88 on the Warham beat), who died on 6 June

All contributions for the next Newsletter should be submitted to the Editor, Sara Phillips, by 15 October 2008. E-mail [email protected]

20 • Holkham Newsletter • Summer/Autumn 2008